Everyone in leadership is familiar with the pressures and the crucible that ministry and leadership bring and are. Many times there are multiple storms at once, but living as chosen holy sisters and daughters, we will never be disgraced or abandoned. Living in authenticity and through the storms, we will find goodness and the faithfulness of God that bring truth and perspective that heals us.

Cheryl and her husband have been married for 47 years and live in Le Mars, Iowa–the Ice Cream Capital of the world, which has stewarded the Blue Bunny ice cream business for 109 years. They have 4 children and 13 grandchildren. In 2002, Cheryl founded a ministry center in her community called Side by Side to support others toward help and healing, as well opened Habitué Coffeehouse and Bakery right next door in 2010. Needing growth in leadership, she joined the John Maxwell Team in 2016 and was certified as a speaker, trainer and coach, speaking at events in many different arenas. In 2022 they sold the family heritage business, and they are now deeply involved in the community development in their hometown of Le Mars, which has opened the door for even more marketplace ministry and fits right into who they are as a part of the Side by Side ministry team.

Learn more about Side by Side Ministries and Habitué Coffeehouse & Bakery.

Find Cheryl on Facebook.

Whether you’re leading a corporate team, a volunteer effort, or a small group, this workshop will provide practical tools to lead with influence, empathy, and humility. With 20 years of experience leading groups in settings ranging from prisons to boardrooms—working with both men and women—I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to build trust and foster real transformation, even in the toughest environments. These insights and strategies are simple, practical, and relevant to any leadership role, no matter where you serve.

Tabatha Perry, raised in Alaska, brings 20 years of experience as a coach, consultant, and group facilitator. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, she has led groups from prisons and small groups to corporate boardrooms. Married for 13 years and a mom to two daughters, Tabatha also serves as the Community and Corrections Outreach Director for Five Stone Media, where she recruits volunteers, builds partnerships, and creates media to inspire hope and change. She enjoys reading, running, and helping others lead with purpose.

Learn more at tabathaperry.coach or @tabathaperrylifecoach on social media. 

If we are followers of Christ, there are definitely things that are black and white in our lives. But there are far more things that don’t fall into the black and white category. Many of the decisions we have to make every day land somewhere on a spectrum of what is right and wrong. How do we know what is right in these gray areas? What does integrity look like in matters of conscience? In this session, we will look at the life of Abigail and the decisions she made which required discernment, courage, intellect and shrewdness in areas that were far from black and white. By following her example, we will gain a better understand how we too can honor God in the gray areas of life.

Kristie Kerr is an author, speaker, worship leader, church planter, and mother of four. She has written several women’s books and Bible Studies, in addition to a series of gender specific devotionals and curriculum for children called “Polka Dot Girls” and “Bazooka Boys.” In 2015, she and her husband, Jeff launched Homestead Community Church in Farmington, MN. You can also hear them on their podcast, “A Little Kerrspective.”

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A leader has many spheres of influence: home, church, career, volunteering…not to mention caring for his or her own spiritual, physical, and mental health. With all these battlegrounds, it is easy to feel like we are losing the war! But take heart, dear friend–the battle belongs to the Lord! During this one-hour Reflection Retreat, participants will have the opportunity to receive spiritual encouragement and get a refresher on time management techniques and pro-tips to balancing your many spheres. This session was planned as equal parts encouragement and practical takeaways, in the hopes that you will leave refreshed and ready to rejoin the good fight!

Pamela Steinle has been employed as a licensed attorney since 2011. In 2020, she opened Steinle Law PLLC, an estate planning and settlement law firm. Today, she balances her law life with a calling to encourage others to live an authentic life that is broken for Jesus. She and husband Justin run a household of girls (ages 6, 10 and an adult relative with Down syndrome), are amateur foodies, and enjoy domestic travel.

Learn more about Pamela at steinlegrace.com and @steinlegrace on social media.

What do buzz words like ‘restoration’ and ‘flourishing’ really mean in the Bible? And how can we take those Christian concepts and use them in our secular workplace, spheres of influence, churches, and homes? Using stories, humor, and the Bible, we will learn what God says about our place in this world and how we can play a part in God’s plan. Working in tandem with God’s purposes is leadership and ministry – whether you are the CEO, the admin assistant, or a preschool worker. Together we will explore God’s good plan for the world and His people. We will be encouraged in the many ways we can participate using our skills and talents.

Rachel Booth Smith’s passion to teach accessible theology has led her to develop curriculum, write Bible studies, and teach. She has a Master of Divinity from Pillar Seminary, where she has learned to study the Bible in its original languages while being trained in Ancient Near East context both for the Old Testament and New Testament. Her book, Rest Assured: What the Creation Story Was Intended to Reveal on Trusting God (8/2024), is her passion project. Rachel and her husband had three children within three years, all of whom are in college now. You can find more of her writing at www.rachelboothsmith.com.

Follow @rboothsmith on social media.

Be encouraged and gain insight as Mykelti Blum (BTG Podcast Host), Lindsay Willis, Crystal Mason, and Rachel Booth Smith share wisdom and Scriptural principles on capacity, boundaries, and rest for leaders.   

Dolores Smith understands that life’s challenges can overwhelm each one of us even on our best day. Her “glass half-full optimism” spills over into her service as a Bridging the Gap advisor and in her career as a Learning and Development manager. Dolores’ motivating passion is to bring people together to discover and embrace all the joy life has to give.